Second-half boost puts Bonita Vista in boys soccer finals

After a scoreless first half, the Barons introduced senior Paolo Macias to the Sundevils.

Macias scored 20 minutes after the break Tuesday night to the delight of a decidedly Bonita Vista home crowd.

The goal was all the Barons needed for a 1-0 victory, setting up a San Diego Section championship match against Hilltop on Saturday.

“It’s something that I’ll tell my kids about,” said Macias, who scored his fourth goal of the year. “I stay after practice, and I practice and practice, watch videos on YouTube of David Beckham, just my inspiration. Just practice. It’s all practice and it finally paid off.”

Bonita Vista was the home team, but without lights or a stadium to speak of the Barons moved the game to nearby Olympian High.

Some students, known as Baron Nation, beat drums, blew vuvuzelas (the horns made popular at the World Cup in South Africa) and led cheers.

Barons coach Jason Murphy is in his 15th season at his alma mater. Under Murphy, the Barons have won eight Mesa League titles, the latest coming last year. The last time the Barons won a section title was in 1989, a team Murphy played on.

Despite not knowing much about Mt. Carmel — the Sundevils upset top-seed Westview in the quarterfinals — Murphy said it turned out not to matter.

“I’ll match our talent up against anybody in all of San Diego and that includes the Poways, the Rancho Bernardos, the San Pasquals, all of them,” Murphy said. “We have great talent. Our problem is we have so much individual talent that sometimes they don’t play as a team. If we can play as a team, I like our chances.”